New blocks will enhance performance: IAAF

The blocks redesigned by Swiss timekeepers Omega for this season’s Diamond League and Olympics came in for criticism last week from none other than Jamaican sprint star Bolt, the world’s fastest man whose voice carries considerable weight. But the IAAF insisted that changes to the starting blocks would not affect those using them.

Usain Bolt

“Visually the starting blocks look very different,” an IAAF said. “Actually Omega redesigned the starting blocks, but the changes have been introduced in order to enhance the measurement of the athlete’s reaction times and to enhance the performance of the athletes.”